Landing on a Target.

[ATL790]

Does anyone have any tips on how to plan on a spot to land from orbit...and actually land there? For instance....land back at KSC after orbiting or back from a moon shot.

[el_coyoto]

You can setup a maneuver node that kills all the horizontal velocity of your ship over KSC. A more efficient way is planning a burn that brings your PE at 20 km over KSC and let the atmosphere brake you onto your target.

The biggest challenges are taking in account Kerbin rotation and the effect of the atmosphere of your ship.

If you want precision landing and don't mind using a mod to predict your landing spot more accurately, you may want to take a look at the landing module of MechJeb.

Good landings and don't forget the parachutes!

[lammatt]

- fly planes if you are talking about Kerbin

- guesstimate the rotation of the planet

- guesstimate how much the atmosphere will brake you

- often press the M key during the descent and correct your path accordingly

- if you are landing with a parachute... deploy at the lowest altitude you feel comfortable

- try to kill the horizontal as much as you can before deploying the chute

[AnalogAddict]

For Duna and other atmospheric worlds, I try to pick a spot 110 degrees from my landing site and lower my periapsis to 4~5km ASL (So periapsis is ~70 degrees ahead of desired landing target). This technique works from altitudes of 75~100km. (Someone made a very handy chart that is more fleshed out than my method, I can't find it to link.) At that point I let 'chutes and atmosphere do their work. Also I'll fire what expendable fuel I may have to fine tune the approach - albeit before the 'chutes deploy. This technique gets me back to KSC and repetitive landings making extra-planetary bases. This may take some trial and error depending on the drag of your craft.

How I do this is fairly simple for non-atmospheric landings, I position my craft roughly on the opposite side of the planetary body from the desired landing site and lower my perigee to 4~5km.

When this maneuver is properly completed, the perigee node should be almost exactly above the landing site.

As I approach the landing site, I begin to kill my lateral velocity.

I've found it easier to start burning before I think I should as to leave a decent amount of lateral velocity to get a more precise landing site in relation to my desired target, also during this phase I might burn normal or anti-normal to fine tune the final landing location.

Your mileage may vary depending on the style of craft you're attempting to land.

This is not the most efficient landing technique, however its reliable time and time again.

[Panichio]

For Duna and other atmospheric worlds, I try to pick a spot 110 degrees from my landing site and lower my periapsis to 4~5km ASL (So periapsis is ~70 degrees ahead of desired landing target).

Could you elaborate on that one part? I don't quite understand what you mean, sorry. But now I'm also really interested in finding that chart... If only the forums search bar worked better.

[Cashen]

Could you elaborate on that one part? I don't quite understand what you mean, sorry. But now I'm also really interested in finding that chart... If only the forums search bar worked better.

What he means is that he begins his de-orbit burn 110 degrees before he would be right over his target. 180 degrees being the opposite side of the planet. When you de-orbit burn, your periapsis is always 180 degrees from you, which means the periapsis in this case is a further 70 degrees beyond his target (180-110=70)

[blizzy78]

Atmospheric Landing Chart: Pinpoint landings on Duna, Eve, Kerbin, Laythe!

[Cashen]

Atmospheric Landing Chart: Pinpoint landings on Duna, Eve, Kerbin, Laythe!

This right here is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you.

[AnalogAddict]

Atmospheric Landing Chart: Pinpoint landings on Duna, Eve, Kerbin, Laythe!

Yes! This is the one!

The interpretation of my description by Cashen is correct.